Note: Do not confuse with Predicate. Predicate is a clause-level function, not a constituent type. It is not a single node in CGEL tree structure, but a descriptive cover term. The predicate is everything in the clause except the subject.
Clause = Subject + Predicate
Predicator is a function, not a category. It is assigned to the head verb of a clause.
Definition:
The predicator is the verbal head that determines the clause’s valency
Licenses complements
Determines transitivity
Typical realization: A lexical verb (not auxiliaries)
> She [gave] him a book.
gave = predicator
it licenses:
Indirect object (him)
Direct object (a book)
Auxiliary contrast
She has left.
left = predicator
has = auxiliary (marker of perfect aspect)
Every finite clause has exactly one predicator.
The predicator is inside the predicate, but the two are not equivalent.
Predicative is a function, assigned to non-verbal complements.
It is not a phrase type (can be NP, AdjP, PP, etc.).
A clausal function: a constituent that ascribes a property, state, or role to an NP within the clause. It may be primary, predicated of the subject, or secondary, predicated of the object.
A predicative attributes a property, state, role, or identity to an NP.
CGEL distinguishes:
3.1 Primary predicative
Predicated of the subject.
A primary predicative is a predicative that:
Is predicated of the subject
Is licensed by a copular verb
Forms the core predicate of the clause
Canonical example:
The sky is blue.
blue → primary predicative (subject predicative)
is → copular verb
is blue → predicate
These verbs license a complex complement structure*:
Object NP + secondary predicative
The predicative is predicated of the object, not selected by the noun and not a free adjunct.
CGEL criteria for a secondary predicative, a secondary predicative must:
Be predicated of an NP (usually the object)
Attribute a property, state, or role
Allow a paraphrase like:
NP is/was Adj/NP
Secondary predicative
She placed the book open.
open attributes a state to the book
Paraphrase: The book was open ✔️
Not a secondary predicative
She placed the book on the table.
on the table expresses a locative relation
No property is attributed to the book
Predicative paraphrase fails:
✗ The book was on-the-table (as a property)
Primary predicative:
Predicated of the subject.
> She is intelligent.
intelligent = predicative
predicated of she
is is a copular verb
Other realizations: > She became a lawyer. >The sky turned red.
Secondary predicative:
Predicated of a non-subject NP (usually the object).
> They elected her president.
president = secondary predicative
predicated of her
Resultative subtype:
> He painted the wall green.
green = secondary predicative
predicated of the wall
> She carefully placed the book on the table.
Predicate: carefully placed the book on the table
Complements: the book → object complement
placed is a transitive lexical verb taking an object (the book) and adjuncts (carefully, on the table).
No predicative complement is licensed.
> She was careful while placing the book on the table.
Predicate: was careful while placing the book on the table
Complements: careful → **predicative complement (primary), predicated of the subject (she).
was is a copular verb.
careful is a primary predicative predicated of the subject (she).
> She carefully placed the book open on the table.
Predicate: carefully placed the book open on the table
placed is used as a complex-transitive verb.
open is a secondary predicative predicated of the object (the book).
Complements:
- the book → object complement
- open → predicative complement (secondary), predicated of the object the book.
> She carefully placed the book on the table.)
on the table is not a secondary predicative because it does not predicate a property of an NP (it expresses location, not attribution).
> They finished the report
You could say:
> The finished the report *early* (not predicative, )
Object = NP complement of a verb that is not predicative.
If it describes an NP → predicative
If it fills an argument slot → object